BELLAIRE — Jim Hepe, a former Belmont County commissioner and union organizer, died Wednesday.

Hepe is being remembered by his friends and colleagues as a man who cared for others and a person who was not afraid to speak his mind.

John Saunders, a local union representative, was lifelong friends with Hepe. They grew up together in Bellaire. Saunders first met Hepe in kindergarten, and they attended St. John Central High School together as well.

Hepe, he said, was drafted and served in Vietnam. After he came back, Hepe worked in an underground coal mine in Belmont County. He moved up the ranks and became a union organizer with the United Mine Workers of America, eventually working for the organization in Washington, D.C.

Later he ran for Belmont County commission. He lost his first bid in a close race against Mel Sargus in a primary. His second try at capturing a seat was successful.

“I was part of his campaign team. … I had relations with him on issues such as health, labor and economic development,” Saunders said. “Jimmy was a unique person. He was basically a quiet person who told you what he thought. He looked at the world differently. He was always looking out for the underdogs.”

Saunders said Hepe helped bring a Wheeling Health Right satellite office to Belmont County while he was commissioner.

“He was a real person. What you saw is what you got. He was about the issues and what he could do to help that person.To me, it was a pleasure working with him. He was a loyal friend. Having a friend for 50 and 60 years is not a common thing. I was happy to be his friend and to have a lot of memories,” Saunders said. “We won some great battles and we lost some really tough defeats. Jimmy had battles in both his personal life and business; it’s something he struggled with. But he was loyal. He was a St. John supporter and fan. He was a good person. Our area lost a good person. He cared more about others.”

Ohio Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, said though Hepe was a few years older than him, he remembers him while growing up in Bellaire. Hepe’s father, he said, was the baseball coach for his team. Later as adults, Hepe was a political organizer when Cera first served in the state legislature.

“Jim was always about working people. Coming from his roots in the coal mines he was always about helping working people and fighting for unions,” Cerra said. “When he was a commissioner that same approach continued, helping working people and senior citizens.”

Cera also fondly remembers that Hepe, like himself, was a Cleveland Indians fan and a Steelers fan, too.

Cera said Hepe lived down the street from him in Bellaire and would occasionally stop by and talk about the mines, politics, baseball and other matters.

“He was a good friend,” Cera said.

Larry Ward, a representative with the Central Ohio Compact in Harrison County, said he worked with Hepe years ago.

“I haven’t seen him in a long time. … He was a very good person to work with. He did a good job,” Ward said. “He did a whole lot of things to help people.”

Hepe’s survivors include his son, Justin Hepe; longtime companion Linda LoCoco; two sisters and four nephews.A Mass will be said in his honor at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. John Catholic Church in Bellaire with the Rev. Daniel Heusel as celebrant. Graveside services will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Bellaire. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. John Catholic Church in Bellaire.